Customer Reviews

Art of Storytelling

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

the greatest come backs of the year I like about every song on this one it had gotten a whole lot of replay from me hot music!!!!

At first I was skeptical to buy it without hearing it first, but it came to be one of my favoriate albums. The downfall of this album is too many skits that does not move the cd along smoothly. The first song or track #2 "Kill Niggaz," Rick starts the cd off strong with the line, "Hoes ass kiss, 'cause I'm like Jason vision / releasing me a basket case from prison..." He adds color to all the tracks with his "singing" and descriptive vision of his lyrics. Just listen to "Adults Only," track #16. He puts a lot of rappers/emcees in check with "Impress the Kid," by saying "...girl catch this fever / and I don't need anyone else to rap with either / if this is based on skill / kill / anybody..." Slick Rick reigns as the Ruler. The most slept on and underated emcee/albums ever!

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name "SLICK RICK" is it excellence? originality? creativity? perfection? or is it all of the above?

Slick Rick is a pioneer in this art of hiphop. Slick Rick set some of the standards hiphop is all about today. Not only as music but as a culture as well.

The Art of Storytelling displays Slick with his most skill, and ability to show off his sick lyrics.

His storytelling abliity is amazing. He keeps the listener focused on the next thing he is going to say. Sure Slick isnt no Canibus or Chino XL, but the rhymes he drops are without a doubt something a real hiphop head can feel. The line from the track "I Own America Part 1" EVEN YA KIDS TELL YA THAT YOU AINT [cool]TO SLICK RICK, is pretty astonishing. There is so much much more.

Memories is the best track by far. Describing how hiphop used to be before the Jiggas or X's, the way that hiphop should be now.

Slick drops lessons on "Two Way Street", as well as others. "Street Talkin" with Outkast is a track just to let the world know Slick Rick is still the worlds biggest pimp. You see kats all day long trying to be a pimp or pimp something, but if you want to check out a REAL PIMP check out SLICK RICK, and if you havent checked out this album by now.... then you got issues.

Pick up this masterpiece.

The original hard-core street poet is back with a super-funky, melodic album full of great hooks and self-searching raps. The guest rappers are all kept in check and Snoop even ends up doing one of his best raps under Rick's influence. Rick often makes fun of his own vanity along the way. The only other rap group I know of that matches Rick's level is OutKast.

The Art Of Story Telling exceeded all of my expectations. I was most impressed with the production. It's so rare these days to hear original, well produced beats. But The Art of Story Telling delivers! The best track on the album is track #4 which features Nas. You'll be playing it over and over. I recommened this album, no question.

I bought this album about a month after it came out not knowing much about Slick Rick (I'd only heard him on the Jermaine Dupri track "Fresh"). Now I own all his album's except for Behind Bars, which I plan to buy soon. There is no other rapper I've ever heard that has the combination of style, flow, delivery, not to mention the straight skill that Slick Rick has. This is one of the few albums that I can sit down and listen to the whole thing without wanting to skip a song (and one of those other few is Rick's solo debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick). Most of Slick's songs are funny, have a message, and above all else are phat. Everyone I've played this LP for agree: it's dope, period. If you are a fan of hip hop, pick up Slick Rick's The Art of Storytelling if you haven't already.

youve heard it once and youll hear it again.THE RULERS BACK.this album is rad and ive told all my friends to get it.i love how each song tells a story and has a sense of humor.it rocks

This is a solid comeback album. Slick Rick still manages to come up with lyrical rhyme masterpieces. Even though the production value is not on a level of his greatest adventures album, his style of rap is always distintive, even refreshingly identifiable at an age where most rappers sound alike. Especially notable and similar to his "adventures" success, is the "street talkin" single, (featuring the quick rapping outkast) with his trademark sing-song melodies inserted cleverly into a swinging phat beat laced with bass.(For the 4x4) Yo, the way I see it, Slick Rick has done it again!!!!!

Slick Rick was responsible for one of the most memorable rap albums ever made (Great Adventures), and was a big part of one of the dopest 12" singles ever ("The Show"/"La Di Da Di"). Unfortunetly, because of his legal circumstances, his last two albums were not up to the standard that we were all accustomed to. In fact, I view this as the real follow up to Great Adventures. While this album is not a classic, it definetly shows Rick back in vintage form. "Who's Rotten Em" is hip hop story telling at it's finest and would fit perfectly in with Rick's classic tales. "Frozen" with Raekwon shoes that the Ruler can rock over a new school beat and hold his own with one of the tightest MCs of the day. But what this album ultimatelty shows is the maturity of the "Treat em Like A Prostitute" kid. Rick is a man now, and cuts like "Memories" and "Two Way Street" show that and still manage to be just as compelling as Rick was in his less 'enlightened' days. It is just a shame that we didn't get to evolve with Rick between Great Adventures and The Art Of Story Tellin'.

In 1999, Rick made a big return to the game with this effort, his first since being released from jail. I haven't heard "The Ruler's Back" or "Behind Bars," but this could legitimately be considered the follow-up to his historic debut "The Art Of Storytelling." The title of this is a little misleading, since Rick only tells a handful of his world-renown tales on this album. The rest of the album contains braggadocio, battle rhymes, and such. That sounds disappointing, but Rick wears the hat convincingly.
As much as I want to dislike Slick Rick the ruler, because of his arrogant attitude and his lack of respect towards women, I just can't hate him as I listen to his music. The man's just such a gifted MC, and he's been in the game since the mid-80's. He does curse more than ever on this album, and uses the p-word and similar words frequently, but his superior skill and assured cadence manifest throughout. He does drop a touch of wisdom every here and there, and even praises the Creator at some points. He's not one-dimensional. Rick leaves out talk about silly crap like cars, jewelry, drugs, gang activities, etc., but does include talk of two of his favorite pastimes: women and sex.
The first song, "Kill Ni***z," has him fantasizing about releasing all his pent-up rage right after being released from prison. Kinda interesting as he steps out of character. The next is "Street Talkin'"(w/ Big Boi) and it's about helping the kids grow to men. I like the chorus and the laid-back feel of this one. If you listen closely, "Who Rotten 'Em" is the best example of Rick's storytelling skills, and sits proudly next to his most famous tales. I think you already know what "Adults Only" is about, one of the most explicit and graphic songs EVER. But it's Rick, was anyone that suprised by it? It's definitely a forgettable one, as is the preceding "Why, Why, Why," which is done in the same(but not so graphic) spirit. "Unity"(w/ Snoop Dogg & Kid Capri) is a decent song about bringing both coasts together, and Snoop actually says something about Farrakhan and the Holy Koran(stick to your league Snoop, don't even try to step foot in ours!), and should technically be the last track. However, then you have a skit, then a second version of "I Own America"(with a better beat), another skit, a bonus song w/ Doug E. Fresh, then two live recordings with classic Rick and Doug E. Fresh joints, ending at 24 tracks.
The standouts are subjective to taste, but my favorites were definitely "2 Way Street," "Impress The Kid," the old-school throwback "I Run This," as well as the reminiscing "Memories" and "Street Talkin'." Other decent tracks include "Me and Nas Bring It To Your Hardest,"(w/ Nas) "Who Rotten 'Em," "King Piece In This Chess Game,"(w/ Canibus on the hook) and possibly "I Own America Part II." The production keeps it flowing throughout, some great points, but overall is simply decent. "2 Way Street" and "Memories" possess great beats that I can think of off the top of my head. Overall, this album is constantly laid-back and soothing. "The Art of Storytelling" falls a little short of classic, but was a strong and worthwhile return for Rick back to this thing we call Hiphop. Ricky D's mark will forever be left in the game.